Friday! Friday! The girls and I have a fun weekend ahead, so we are really excited to over-snap and ‘gram it per usual. But first, I wanted to say thank you for all your awesome feedback on both the parenting fail post and the cheat meal post. I can’t tell you how much I value your feedback and often ready through the comments multiple times. You have so much to offer and I’d encourage people who aren’t usual comment readers to check them out.

Now on to things I am loving lately and I must say there feels like a lot! I bookmark articles and sort pictures into the ‘Friday’ folder as I find things I want to share and when I opened it up, the folder was booming– check it out…

The Collapse of Parenting

Wow, this book. A reader emailed me suggesting I might like the message (hi Kelly! :)) and she was RIGHT. I primed this to my front door about a week ago and have been devouring it ever since. Leonard Sax dives right into the dramatic decline of achievement and psychological health of American children. I could see how he might ruffle some feathers with his straight talk, but his facts and logic had my head almost fall off my shoulders from nodding in agreement.

I joked with David that people often ask for the handbook that goes with raising kids in today’s world, well this would be it. It’s already given me a little boost in putting my parenting beliefs into practice. I am definitely going to be reading Girls on the Edge after this one. What can I say, despite how I fight it, I’m a nonfiction/self-help/learn something kind of book lover.

Toddler Toms

Let’s tone down my passion a little with something a little more lighthearted like Hailey’s new Toms shoes. I bought them for her a week ago and she hasn’t taken them off since. She loves them so much that each time she takes them off she puts the little cardboard fillers (?) back inside of them so they don’t lose their shape. Ha.

I considered getting her another pair in a more neutral color but when I clicked over to check them out, I started swooning with the plethora of options. So many cute shoes!

The CVS Pharmacy App The following section is brought to you in part of my on-going partnership with CVS.

Hailey is in the same class as her best friend. Her best friend’s mom is one of my best friends and she is more structured and organized than I will ever be. She sends me reminders for things the kids need for class, etc. This is all lead up to tell you that I don’t have that kind of hand-holding in Kaitlyn’s class. And while I do my best to stay on top of everything, inevitably I woke up one morning with a reminder from Kaitlyn’s teacher to please remember to bring photos in that day. Ahhh— that day?!

Say hello to my saving grace. The CVS Pharmacy app is so awesome. Among other things, it allows you to order pictures to print right from your phone.

You can print from your memory, facebook, snapchat, instagram, etc. Just click, choose and print. So easy!

I hopped on that morning and had pictures to turn in to the teacher by the time I picked her up. No one was the wiser at my last minute scramble.

Whether you are more organized me or not, you should totally download the CVS app because let’s be honest, when is the last time you actually printed out some of the adorable photos you’ve taken with your phone?

This.

Despite my renewed focus on the parent I want to be from reading my book, I couldn’t help but get a good giggle out of this:

Totally how I feel some days – ha!

Melissa and Doug Paint with Water

Ok, so let me say that these paint with water books aren’t the best paints I’ve ever seen, but then convenience of having each page have its own set of paint ready to go, the low mess factor and the cost (less than $5) make these books a winner in my house. It kept Hailey occupied solo for about 30 minutes.

Does Melissa and Doug ever make something that isn’t great? I’ve heard excellent things about these Water Wow products and plan on snagging several before an upcoming road trip.

Spaghetti Squash

You know, a totally normal thing to love, right? Yesterday we had clean-out-the-fridge night. Since spaghetti squash is so easy to make, I baked one in the afternoon, then mixed it with leftover pizza sauce in a Pyrex. I topped it with the remaining mozzarella cheese and it was ready to quickly pop in the oven when we got home from swim lessons.

It basically was a quick and cheesy version of this paleo spaghetti pie, which you should totally try if you haven’t. Anyway, the girls loved it and I can totally see us making it again in the future.

From around the web

Let’s finish up with some things I’ve read and really enjoyed lately. I must have been surfin’ the net quite a lot this week because I have several really great links!

13 Habits of Self Made Millionaires  — I found this so interesting. If only I had time for #12, but, you knows, kids and all.

What to Expect at Burn Boot Camp — Julie wrote such a great overview as to what to expect at your first BBC class!

How your face changes after 1, 2 and 3 glasses of wine — See, this is why we should all drink wine. Cheers friends!

Secrets for Saving Money at Whole Foods — Brittany shared some great tips worth checking out!

Apparently there is another hidden Inbox on Facebook — This totally blew my mind. I had several filtered messages that I hadn’t meant to ignore!

4 Year Old Eats — Gina shares Liv’s meals with a great piece of advice for feeding kids that I totally agree with!

Prepping Freezer Meals Before Baby– Great tips for freezing foods. And Molly actually just welcomes baby Miles! Congrats girl <3

The Truth About Deschooling that Will Blow Your Mind — I actually met with a couple homeschool friends this week as I continue to gather information. Exciting! This article shares some great tips for making the concept less intimidating.

Spring Roll Bowls with Sweet Garlic Line Sauce — I need to make these. I’ve been craving spring rolls like crazy and this bowl made me drool on my keyboard.

10 Pieces of Career Advice I Wish I Had 10 Years Ago — Love Cassie’s writing and insight.

Whew, OK, I think I’m done, haha!

I hope you have a great weekend and if there is anything you are loving lately or anything you’ve read that is share worthy, please leave it in the comments!

 

Blue Apron winners